07 September 2012

Air Force Wants Delivery of TA-50 Aircraft Completed Before 2016

07 September 2012

KAI TA-50
LIFT and Light Attack aircraft (photo : defence21)

Air Force Gains
credibility with South Korea Light Attack Jets

BASA AIR
BASE, Floridablanca, Pampanga— Not too long ago, the Philippines Air Force was
frequently ribbed as being all air with no force, but PAF chief Lt. Gen. Lauro
Catalino de la Cruz hopes the snickering will soon stop with the looming
acquisition of 12 TA-50 light attack jets from South Korea.

“There’s an
ongoing top-level discussion at the Department of National Defense for the
acquisition of the much needed air assets,” De la Cruz said during the 51st
anniversary of PAF Air Defense Wing stationed at this air base.

The defense
department announced the selection of the South Korean jets last Aug. 1 and
officials expect the signing of the purchase contract within the next few
months.

De la Cruz
said top defense officials want to request the immediate delivery of two TA-50
jets so that PAF pilots can begin training and be ready for the delivery of
entire order of 24 jets by 2016.

“This is a
realization of the dream we have dreamt a long, long time ago,” De la Cruz
said. “That is why many of our personnel will be sent to schooling abroad for
air traffic control and related courses.”

Aside from
the jets, De la Cruz said the PAF will also construct three radar stations at
Lubang Island, Palawan and Zamboanga next year, boosting the air force’s
ability to monitor all aircraft entering Philippine territory.

AFP also confirmed
procurement of 3 fixed air surveillance systems and wants 1 mobile radar over
the next 5 years. Three radar stations will
be constructed at Lubang Island, Palawan and Zamboanga next year (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

“We will
make sure that the proposed facilities and aircraft are tailored-fit to our
requirement,” De la Cruz said, noting that even the choice of the South Korean
jet was based on the advantages it offered to the military in consideration of
the situation in the West Philippine Sea.

The TA-50 is
the light attack version of the T-50 Golden Eagle, South Korea’s first
indigenous supersonic aircraft and one of the world’s few supersonic trainers,
built by Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin of the United States.

The jet’s
design is largely derived from the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and they have many
similarities: use of a single engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of
weapons.

The TA-50
mounts a M197 20mm three-barrel cannon and a fire control radar system. It can
accommodate the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile and a variety of additional
weapons can be mounted to underwing hardpoints.